Blackmail trial for German national player – in court on Monday | Sports

On Monday, Leverkusen professional Jonathan Tah (27) was invited as a witness before the Opladen district court. The accused is a former acquaintance of the 16-time German international: Claudio Bega.

Tah had already filed a criminal complaint with the Cologne public prosecutor’s office last year against Bega, who describes himself as a player advisor. Charges have now been brought for completed and caused extortion robbery.

It’s about two slaps, blackmail, a wiretapping operation and 238,000 euros.

The case of Tah

As a U19 player at HSV, Tah met Claudio Bega (30 today) in 2012, who has kept in touch with Tah. According to his lawyer in a letter, Tah saw him as an urgent “groupie”.

Bega, who claims to run the “Begasports” player agency, sees himself as an advisor to Tah. And I helped him to climb the sport.

In 2013, Bega is said to have asked for money for the first time. Combined with threats of violence against his family. Tah actually pays a total of 60,500 euros in two tranches.

In September 2014, Tah (now with Fortuna Düsseldorf) is said to have received a visit from Bega and was hit twice in the face with the flat of his hand.

Next incident in 2015 in Leverkusen, where Tah had meanwhile moved.

Tah is said to have gotten into Bega’s car and directed him under a highway bridge near the training ground. Two Tah friends were waiting there.

Version from Bega to BILD: “One immediately yanked open the door and repeatedly punched my left cheek and temple. Another immediately snatched my mobile phone, which I wanted to use to call the emergency services immediately. I got out of the car and got two more slaps in the face for no reason.”

The two slaps are undisputed.

Version Tah: He was scared to death because there was a manslayer in the car.

After a long break, Bega is said to have reenacted Tah from January 2021.

Now it’s about the money.

Bega asked for 200,000 euros for the slaps and the “wounded honor”. Otherwise, his connections with the Albanian mafia could have Tah shot in the legs and end his career.

Next Incident: After the Bundesliga match between Leverkusen and Schalke on April 3, 2021, Bega shows up when Tah wants to drive from the BayArena to the team hotel in the car with his teammates Karim Bellarabi and Nadiem Amiri. Tah stops and tells his teammates that he’s been being stalked for a while. Bellarabi tells Bega to stop chasing Tah.

Tah files a complaint, among other things, for extortion and also inaugurates his club.

Teammate Bellarabi gives testimony on April 28, 2021: “If he follows Jonah and says he owes him, that’s like a threat to me. I also felt like Jonah was a bit scared.”

By court order, Bega’s cell phone was bugged. According to the record, Bega’s mother tells him to “cupp properly” Tadeus (codename for Tah).

On June 6, 2021, Bega sends a WhatsApp to Tah with the invoice for 200,000 euros plus VAT as “compensation” and “start-up financing”. He doesn’t pay.

A house search at Bega on July 8, 2021 remains fruitless.

In February 2022, Bega sued Tah at the regional court for the allegedly promised 238,000 euros. Tah denies any such promise.